Undergraduate Curriculum

The curriculum is at the heart of who and what we are in the School of Art. Innovative and progressive, we embrace new and established technologies in both physical and virtual realms. We are quite comfortable with the mix of the manual, the machine, the mind, and the Mac (or PC) and yet we don’t ever want to become too comfortable. Edging into new territories, imaginary or real, is part of what we’re about.

One of our curricular edges is our blend of concept and media studios. Concept studios focus on generating and developing ideas in courses devoted to broad themes such as the self and the human being, time and space, and systems and processes before proceeding to our unique community affiliation and senior year projects. Media studios focus on the materials, techniques and processes of art ranging from charcoal to cast aluminum to constructions in cyberspace. The curriculum as a whole integrates form and content, technique and concept.

The first two years provide a broad and balanced exposure to the complete range of media that we have to offer and a variety of creative processes and conceptual approaches. Juniors and seniors may specialize in one of our four areas of concentration: Electronic and Time Based Art (including animation, video, robotic art and other digital and interactive media); Painting, Drawing and Printmaking (with courses ranging from figure drawing to two-dimensional projections in space, artists’ books to mixed media); Sculpture, Installation and Site Work (with special topics courses such as environmental sculpture and sound installation and media such as metals, foundry, clay and wood); or Contextual Practice. Many of our students cross over concentrations as well as mixing their media in a flexible program that suits and stimulates individual interests.

An interdisciplinary approach permeates all aspects of our programs. Whether it’s drawing inspiration from Dante’s "Divine Comedy" in Concept Studio I or designing sets for a Bartok opera in an Advanced Painting course or supporting a double major in Art and Human Computer Interaction, we relish and promote the inescapable and stimulating intersections between art and other disciplines. Our BFA students blend their professional training with academic courses. At least one in four courses are non-studio academic courses, building a broader education that better informs a creative life.

A sample undergraduate curriculum schedule follows;

Freshman Year

Fall

60-101 Concept Studio I: Self and Human Being – 10 units
60-110 Electronic Media Studio I – 10 units
60-150 Two-Dimensional Media Studio I – 10 units
60-104 Contemporary Issues Forum – 6 units
76-10x English Composition – 9 units
99-10x Computing Skills Workshop – 3 units
Total Units: 48

Spring

60-102 Concept Studio II: Time and Space – 10 units
60-130 3-Dimensional Media Studio I – 10 units
60-151 Two-Dimensional Media Studio II – 10 units
60-105 Pre-Industrial Visual Cultures; to 1789 – 9 units
79-104 World History – 9 units
Total Units: 48

Sophomore Year

Fall

60-201 Concept Studio III: Systems and Processes – 10 units
60-230 3-Dimensional Media Studio II – 10 units
60-250 Two-Dimensional Media Studio III – 10 units
60-106 Modern Visual Culture; 1789-1945 – 9 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
Total Units: 48

Spring

60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-210 Electronic Media Studio II – 10 units
60-251 Two-Dimensional Media Studio IV – 10 units
60-205 Contemporary Visual Culture; 1945 to the Present – 9 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
Total Units: 48

Junior Year

Fall

xx-xxx Study Abroad – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-3xx Adv Art Academic Course – 9 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
Total Units: 48

Spring

60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-3xx Adv Art Academic Course – 9 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
Total Units: 48

Senior Year

Fall

60-401 Concept Studio V: Senior Project – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
Total Units: 48

Spring

60-402 Concept Studio VI: Senior Project – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
60-4xx Advanced Studio – 10 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
xx-xxx University Academic Elective – 9 units
Total Units: 48

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